ProMark Offroad Blog

As the season heats up and the adventures gear up, we know you’re getting some great use out of your winch. We understand how important your winch is to your safety and summer fun. Because of how important it is, protecting your winch should be second nature. Your winch receives a great deal of exposure from being mounted on the front of your vehicle. Using a winch cover can help protect and preserve your winch.

Neoprene Winch Cover

Elements

Over the course of the seasons, your winch will be exposed to literally every element. Sand, dirt, rain, and snow will all come in contact with your winch. Prolonged exposure to these elements can break down your winch line over time. The elements can also work to deteriorate the winch drum, the fairlead, and other aspects critical to your winch’s operation. Sand and dirt will work especially quickly to grind away at the line.

Line Integrity

Line integrity is your most valuable asset. Whether you own a synthetic or steel line, protecting it isn’t difficult if you have the right gear. A winch cover will allow your to effectively protect your winch from the elements keep it in working order. The winch cover provides protection for the winch line and the drum while not in use. For those with synthetic lines, the cover reduces fade to the line. The synthetic line is unique in that it is designed for durability and water exposure. Keeping a synthetic line covered will keep it looking nice.

Keeping your winch in working order goes beyond using a winch cover. Regular maintenance and cleaning will help you take care of your winch.

Winch Cover

If you want to keep your winch in working order during the busy season or in storage, a winch cover will go a long way to protecting your equipment. ProMark Offroad offers a variety of neoprene covers for any size winch. Check out our other winch accessories to keep your winch in tip top shape. We also offer free shipping to the lower 48 states. Pick one up today!

Constant exposure to the elements can break down your winch line prematurely and allow abrasive grime, sand, and dirt into your winch’s gears and other moving parts. To make your winch and cable last as long as possible, use a winch cover when you are not using the winch.

For Synthetic Rope

If you run synthetic line on your winch, a cover can slow down the fading. Even with UV inhibitors, exposure to the sun will eventually fade the color on your rope. Synthetic line is designed to withstand harsh exposure to the elements, since it was originally developed for marine use, but it will last longer (and look better) if you keep it covered.

For Steel Cable

If you run steel cable, a winch cover keeps out abrasive substances and protects against rain, UV rays, and other elements. Mud, dirt, road grime, salt, sand, and ice can get into your winch gears and other winch parts and act like sandpaper, keeping your winch from running smoothly and possibly causing damage.

Even with a winch cover, it’s still important to use and maintain your winch properly if you want to get the most life out of it. There’s no substitute for taking good care of your winch with regular maintenance and cleaning.

Customer Testimonial from Monty C.

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I received the winch accessory pack/winch cover. Thank you very much for everything that you helped me with. And I will enjoy the accessory pack. I’ll put the cover on the winch and send you a picture of my very muddy four wheeler with a clean winch cover! As I told you on the phone, we have been very satisfied with our Gorilla [now ProMark Offroad] Winches.

My brother and I inherited our family farm and it borders the Congaree River here in Calhoun County, St. Matthews, South Carolina. We have lot of swamp land and during the rainy times, we really depend on our four wheelers to travel in the swamp. And we do enjoy taking the scenic route through the mud!

The Gorilla [now ProMark Offroad] Winches have never let us down and we have, one time or another, had four or five four wheelers bogged down up to the seats and have winched each other out in a snap! I have used the winch to help move logs and debris and do all kinds of things. I am very happy with the winches that we have bought from Gorilla Winch [now ProMark Offroad]. Again, thank you for all of your help.

Don’t let the thought of winch theft keep you up at night. Protect your winch from being stolen with one of these ideas.

Winch theft is a major concern for many winch owners, especially if you park your rig in the yard or leave it in the Wal-Mart parking lot for a few hours. You’ve invested a good chunk of change in your winch. Now how can you make sure it won’t get ripped off?

Here are 7 ways to prevent winch theft:

Winch Cover

Buy a winch lock or a security bolt lock. They prevent access to the bolt and can only be removed with a special key. Just make sure you don’t lose the key, in case you ever need to take your winch off!

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Weld a section of C-Channel over the bolt heads to prevent access to the bolts.

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Weld a cap over one or several of the bolts. If you ever need to remove your winch to repair or replace it, you’ll need to grind off the cap.

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Weld the bolts and nuts together. Some have done this and it’s worked just fine; others claim that the extreme heat can weaken the bolts. So while it’s not the best option, it is an option. Most winch manufacturers advise against welding the bolts because it could compromise the strength of the bolts.

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Secure the winch with a cable and lock. While it’s not the most secure option by far, it may be enough to discourage the casual thief looking for an easy target. At the very least, it slows down the thief and gives you a better chance of catching them in the act.

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Use a winch cover. Sometimes the best way to keep your stuff from getting ripped off is to keep it out of sight. Out of sight, out of mind.

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Take the winch off and put it back on only when you go offroading. Sound like too much work? That’s what I thought. But it’s an option. If you mount your winch with a receiver hitch mount instead of a permanent winch mount, this option sounds a little more realistic.

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If you have a better way to protect your winch, let us know in the comments! (Click on the post title and scroll down to see the comments section).

Protect your ATV, UTV, or side x side from damage caused by exposure to the elements.

Polaris ATV Cover

Dirt, dust, snow, rain, and UV rays accelerate the damage and wear that your quad will be exposed to over the years. Keep your ATV looking and working like new for longer by eliminating these sources of damage with an ATV cover.

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ATV covers are specially coated or sealed to repel water. A water-repellent coating allows water vapor to escape, whereas a waterproof seal can trap moisture, which can damage your vehicle. The breathable water-repellent coating prevents mildew naturally by allowing extra moisture to evaporate.

Another quality feature of quad covers is a venting system that allows free airflow and prevents the cover from lofting in strong winds. An elastic hem and grommets with tie downs also ensure that the cover stays snugly in place and make your ATV cover trailerable.

An ATV or UTV cover serves a double purpose by concealing your ride from prying eyes and discouraging the possibility of a stolen vehicle or stolen parts. A camo ATV cover will further disguise your vehicle, without cramping your style.

Another option to consider in protecting damage to your ATV is a winch cover. Winch covers prolong the life of your winch by keeping dirt, mud, and water out of your winch. A clean and dry winch will operate more smoothly and for a longer lifespan than a winch that is constantly exposed to mud, water, and other damaging elements out on the trail.